MLB scores, highlights: Blue Jays, Cubs, Mets remain hottest teams in baseball

Joe Rodgers

MLB scores, highlights: Blue Jays, Cubs, Mets remain hottest teams in baseball image

Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.

The hottest teams in baseball are showing no signs of slowing down.

With a 4-2 win over the Athletics, the Blue Jays matched their franchise record with 11 straight wins to remain a half-game ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. Mark Buehrle had another quality start for the Jays, allowing two runs on seven hits over seven innings as the club finds itself 12 games over .500 in the second half of the season for the first time since Sept. 13, 2008.

In the National League, the Cubs used five homers and solid pitching to capture their seventh consecutive win and their 13th victory in the past 14 games. Rookie catcher Kyle Schwarber highlighted the Cubs' performance, finishing 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Jon Lester won his fourth straight decision, setting a historic record in the process. Lester struckout out 10 Brewers, marking his fourth game with 10 or more punchouts this season, which is the most double-digit strikeout games in a single season by a Cubs southpaw since 1900.

The NL East-leading Mets have won 11 of their past 13 games after sweeping the Rockies in a dominating 12-3 win. Mets starter Noah Syndergaard gave up four hits over his first two innings, then didn't allow another the rest of the way for his fifth straight win at Citi Field. The Mets own a 4 1/2 game lead over the Nationals, who fell to the Giants 3-1. 

Here are more highlights from Thursday's games:

Impact players:

 C —  Yan Gomes, Indians: Gomes finished 3 for 4 with two singles, a double, a run scored, a walk and an RBI against the Yankees.  

1B — Mitch Moreland, Rangers: Moreland was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate against the Twins, finishing with a two-run home run and four RBIs. 

2B — Kelly Johnson, Mets: The trade deadline addition went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.

SS — Eugenio Suarez, Reds: After connecting on an RBI double, Suarez drilled a three-run homer in his 3-for-5 performance. 

3B — Nolan Arenado, Rockies: Arenado belted his 28th homer of the season in the first inning against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. He is batting .274/.313/.553 with 82 RBIs.

OF — Billy Hamilton, Reds: The speedster showed rare power against the Dodgers, belting a solo homer in the eighth for his fourth hit of the night. He also stole his 53rd bag of the season and scored four times. 

DH — Carlos Santana, Indians: Santana went 2 for 3 with an RBI, a stolen base and a walk, extending his hitting streak to a modest five games. 

SP — Ryan Vogelsong, Giants: Vogelsong stumped the Nationals' bats, firing five innings of one-run ball, while allowing just three hits and striking out eight. 

Key injuries:

Angels starter C.J. Wilson will undergo surgery this week on his pitching elbow to clean up loose bone spurs. He is expected to be fully recovered by the start of spring training.

On the disabled list since July 30, Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda (forearm) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Trenton.

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will undergo an MRI Friday on his ailing left knee.

The Twins placed right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury.

Web gems:

Blue Jays second baseman Cliff Pennington changes directions to field the ball after Mark Buehrle deflects it, then fires to first to get the A's Josh Phegley at first. 

Nationals All-Star Bryce Harper fields a single in right field and throws out the Giants' Buster Posey at the plate.

Surprise performers:

Good: Despite a blowout loss to the Cubs, Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun went 3 for 4 with two stolen bases and an RBI. 

Bad: Entering the day with a 2.15 ERA at home this season, Cardinals starter Lance Lynn recorded just two outs against the Pirates at Busch Stadium, allowing seven runs (three earned) on six hits. 

Facts of the day:

Schwarber is the youngest Cubs player with multiple four-RBI games in a season since Ron Santo in 1961.

Yankees backstop Brian McCann became just the fifth catcher ever to have at least nine seasons of 20 or more homers. He joined Mike Piazza, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra and Gary Carter. 

The Pirates' seven first-inning runs are the most first-inning runs they have scored in St. Louis since June 13, 1943.

The Angels snapped a nine-game road losing streak by coming back from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Royals 7-6 in Kansas City. 

Off the field:

The Yankees called up Greg Bird from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He got the start at first base against the Indians and finished 0 for 5. He was slashing .301/.353/.500 with Scranton/Wilkes Barre before getting the call. 

Acquired from the Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade last month, John Lamb will make his MLB pitching debut Friday for the Reds against the Dodgers. 

Major League Baseball hopes to give minority and female applicants a boost in efforts to land high-profile jobs around the league.

Former Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski might not be out of work for long. Fired Aug. 4 by the Tigers, Dombrowski has been contacted by Rogers Communication about becoming president of the Blue Jays.

Several teams, including the Giants, have made offers for Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, although no deal is imminent, per MLB.com. 

Reactions:

"I'm going to reward our fan base because I'm going to tell you, the noise and enthusiasm ... it's really hard not to have some energy when you take the field right now," Mets manager Terry Collins said, via MLB.com, of the Mets, who improved to 13-5 when drawing at least 36,000 fans to Citi Field. "We're playing well at home, and guys are excited about it."

Mike Aviles' twin daughters, Adriana and Maiya, threw out the game's ceremonial first pitches while he played catcher. Adriana was diagnosed with leukemia in May. 

Scores:

American League:

Blue Jays 4, Athletics 2
Rangers 6, Twins 5
Yankees 8, Indians 6
Angels 7, Royals 6

National League:

Mets 12, Rockies 3
Cubs 9, Brewers 2
Pirates 10, Cardinals 5
Giants 3, Nationals 1
Reds 10, Dodgers 3

A look ahead: (All times Eastern)

Yankees (62-51) at Blue Jays (64-52), 7:07 p.m.: The top two teams in the AL East square off as Ivan Nova (4-4, 3.52 ERA) and the Yankees travel to Toronto having lost five of their past six games. Newcomer David Price (11-4, 2.35 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays, who are vying for a 12th straight win. 

Rays (58-56) at Rangers (56-57), 8:05 p.m.: After winning seven of their past 10 games, the Rays are right in the mix for the second AL wild card. Making his first career start in Arlington, Nate Karns (7-5, 3.52 ERA) looks to silence the red-hot Rangers, who have the second-most runs scored since the All-Star break. Martin Perez (1-2, 5.81 ERA) takes the mound for the Rangers in his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. 

Nationals (58-56) at Giants (61-53),10:15 p.m.: In his last outing, Max Scherzer (11-8, 2.44 ERA) gave up a season-high three home runs against the Rockies. In Friday’s start against the Giants, Scherzer looks for a rebound outing against the defending World Series champions. Matt Cain (2-3, 5.59 ERA) takes the mound for the Giants amid a personal slump. In his past three starts, the right hander has allowed 13 earned runs in 15 innings. 

Joe Rodgers